President William Ruto together with Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir, unveils the Mombasa Commuter Railway Service. Photo by PCS 
By Andrew Mbuva
President William Ruto has unveiled the Mombasa Commuter Railway Service, a KSh6 billion project aimed at revolutionising urban mobility in the coastal city.
Speaking at Miritini during the launch on Wednesday, the President said the 16.6-kilometre line will provide faster, safer, and more affordable transport for thousands of residents and visitors, while easing congestion on Mombasa’s busy roads.
“This is part of our government’s strategy to expand the rail network from Naivasha to Malaba through Kisumu and across the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, securing Kenya’s place as the gateway to Africa,” said President Ruto.
The project includes the rehabilitation of a 13.8km line and a 2.8km link to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus at Miritini, effectively bridging a historic gap at Kilometre Zero—the birthplace of the Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1896.
With a daily capacity of up to 4,000 passengers, the new commuter service is expected to cut travel time, reduce transport costs, and make the SGR’s Madaraka Express more accessible. “The commissioning of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service is more than a local convenience. It is a symbol of our past, a solution for the present, and a promise for the future,” the President declared.
Ruto further announced that the KSh65 billion Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone will be launched before year’s end, creating thousands of jobs in the Coast region. He also highlighted ongoing development projects, including the expansion of the Port of Mombasa at a cost of KSh41 billion, affordable housing worth KSh24 billion, road upgrades worth KSh4.7 billion, and title deed processing valued at KSh3.8 billion.
The President dismissed critics of his administration, urging Kenyans to focus on development rather than “naysayers and negative voices.” Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho also rallied support for the Head of State, with Joho praising Ruto’s administration for prioritising the Coast in national development.
The event was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir, Salim Mvurya, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, MPs, and MCAs.
